GREENVILLE – The 2024 Farm Power of the Past entered its second day with a 9 a.m. opening ceremony and welcome from Greenville Mayor Jeff Whitaker and Power of the Past President Chet Linebaugh to a large gathering at the American flag pole for the playing of the National Anthem and opening prayer by Pastor Jim Meredith.
“What a wonderful morning with a great group of people here,” said Mayor Whitaker. “This 25th anniversary of the Greenville Farm Power of the Past means a lot to this community. It brings so many people and acknowledges the No. 1 industry in the State of Ohio, and that is agriculture.”
“What the farmer means to this country is the basis for what this country is founded on, the industry of farming. Without it, nobody eats; that is plain and simple.”
“All the equipment that is here, all these classic tractors and farm equipment, the lawn equipment and Ohio Gas Engines, is an awesome display, and I am pleased to be here today,” Whitaker added. “I welcome everyone to the City of Greenville.”
Chet took a moment of silence to remember the Greenville Farm Power of the former members who are no longer with us: Doug Uhrig, Ron Myers, Tom Dailey, Larry Eley, Walter “Doc” Fortkamp, Dee Mathias, Harold Schaar, Sharon Wright, Howard Yoder, Terry Cooper, and Wayne Sumner.
Power of the Past president, Chet Linebaugh noted the event came together very well and thanked the directors and many volunteers for their hard work.
“They do a phenomenal job putting this show together each year,” said Linebaugh. “We have a lot of tractors here, and we have more coming, and it looks like we will break a record. I also want to thank the Darke County Veterans for opening their building this weekend.”
Linebaugh shared that Wogaman Gas Engines at the show were made in Greenville, Ohio, with six of the known engines in existence on the grounds, and stated, “Seven of the eight known are in Greenville right now where they were built.”
“The Wogoman gas engines were made here in Greenville, Ohio,” said Farm Power of the Past Director Mike Monnier. “There are seven privately owned ones that we know of, and there is another engine at the Garst Museum. The eighth one, as far as we know, is down in Texas.”
The Darke County Tractor Pullers Association’s Tractor Pull begins at 7 p.m. tonight (Friday, July 12th) in front of the Grandstand with infield seating available.
